The Best Drinks Reception Venues in Glasgow

Whether you're searching for a venue with a difference or just looking to impress your guests, Glasgow has some of the best drinks reception venues and bars in Scotland. We've taken the hard work out of finding your perfect venue, whether you are looking for somewhere quirky or somewhere more traditional.

Glasgow may not be the first city that springs to mind when it comes to planning a drinks reception, but its thriving cultural scene, stunning architecture and its friendly people make it a great choice.

Drinks receptions are a great way to break the ice at events and offer a social environment for guests to communicate and network. It’s the perfect relaxed corporate event to be combined with meetings or workshops and it’s also a great way to connect with loved ones.

Planning a drinks reception

Glasgow has a wide array of venues for entertaining guests. It’s important to pick the right one for the event that you’re planning. Our three best pieces of advice when planning a drinks reception are:

1. Be creative – think about the type of event you would like to host and let your imagination run wild!

2. Think about your budget - drinks receptions can cost from £5 per person to over £150 per head, so it is important to be clear about what you can afford.

3. Be realistic about the number of guests you wish to host – this will ensure that your venue is the right size for your event and that there is enough staff available on the night to look after you appropriately.

Our top 3 venues for hosting drinks receptions in Glasgow

We think the three best places in Glasgow for hosting a drinks reception are Citation, Òran Mór, and Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum.

Citation is located near Blythswood Square, down a private road. It's a fantastic space with room for up to 600 guests so this is the place to be if you're looking to host a big reception. 

Òran Mór is an impressive building situated on Byres Road in the heart of Glasgow. The building has been home to a church, an art-house cinema and now one of Glasgow's leading entertainment venues. It can accommodate up to 400 guests in its breathtaking auditorium or 45 standing in the Private Dining Room, making it a super versatile space.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum is one of Scotland’s most visited attractions and welcomes over 1 million visitors each year! With themed, state-of-the-art galleries displaying many astonishing objects, there really is no better space for hosting something extraordinary. 

How to book a venue

VenueScanner is the easiest way to book a venue for your next event. Start out by browsing our range in Glasgow and whenever you see something you like you can save it in your shortlist using the heart icon. From there you easily send out enquiries in bulk once you’ve got a good amount of options. This way you’ll be sure to compare prices and setups for your drinks reception, never having to wonder if there’s something better out there. We’ve simply made sure to collect all the best options out there so you can compare and make an informed decision.

More options

If you can’t find what you’re looking for we have plenty more options. You can browse other venue types like summer party venues or other cities like Edinburgh. You can also contact our concierge and they’ll help you with every aspect of your venue search, completely free of charge.